Slavery by Another Name

Slavery by Another Name

Explore the little-known story of the labor practices and laws that effectively created a new form of slavery in the South that persisted into the 20th century.

Slavery by Another Name, airing Friday, January 18, 2013 at 7 p.m. on WXXI World (DT21.2/cable 524)﻿,﻿ based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Wall Street Journal senior writer Douglas A. Blackmon, explores the little-known story of the post-Emancipation era and the labor practices and laws that effectively created a new form of slavery in the South that persisted well into the 20th century. Blackmon examines the concept of “neoslavery,” which sentenced African-Americans to forced labor for violating an array of laws that criminalized their everyday behavior. Actor Laurence Fishburne (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Thurgood) narrates.﻿

Comments

I just watched Slavery by Another Name, and I was surprised and enlightened to learn about this chapter of American History. I came to the US in 1973 from Guyana South America, and began my school years in 6th grade learning 'US History' as it was being taught; about Slavery and later about the Civil Rights Movement. These are the periods of history that the history books addressed, however, it is a show like Slavery by Another name that shed light on a period not talked about but explains so much. Tonight I learned a new phrase - Convict Leasing. This unjust practice brings to light the horrors of oppression that continued for many years as America built this country on the backs of 'so called' freed slaves. No wonder there is still this aura of distrust between the races; the idea that not much is expected from Black people, that we are bad behaved, criminal types and that we really are not capable of doing more than manual labor. Seeing this show tonight explained a great deal to me, as to why Blacks remain in dire situations they live in and how the impact will continue to be felt for generations to come. It is evident even in the highest position in this nation, and the free world, POTUS, that our President continues to be judged not on his abilities and qualifications, but with the underlying doubt that he is just not capable of doing the job.

Thank you for having the courage and decency for showing and sharing real stories of America. It is my hope that lessons will be learned from errors of the past. AMerica will survive and thrive when all people are free to soar and achieve what they are entitled. This wasa graeat documentary!